Cocktails & Mocktails to Warm Up Winter

A roundup of seasonal cocktails (and mocktails) to keep you and your belly warm during the winter months.

Cocktail: Hot Apple Pie [Whitefield]

The Sip This winter, sip your dessert with this take on apple pie: hot apple cider and Tuaca (a sweet, citrusy Italian brandy liqueur) topped with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick. Sit back, sip, and enjoy the view of the snow-covered Presidential Range.

The Spot The idyllic and historic Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa is home to Harvest Tavern, where local ingredients and scenic outlooks are the big draws.

Cocktail: Southern Chai [Epping]

The Sip Warm up with the Southern Chai, made with organic Oregon chai and half-steamed milk, Knob Creek bourbon and finished with a floater of amaretto for an added nutty note. And don’t leave without trying one of their fresh baked popovers – even if it’s just a mini for that sweet end of brunch bite.

The Spot Nestled into Brickyard Square, the restaurant and shopping heart of Epping, Popovers is known for its fresh and tasty quick soups, salads, and sandwiches as well as the best breakfast in town.

Mocktail: European Sipping Chocolate [Peterborough]

The Sip It may look like hot cocoa, but this drink isn’t made from a powder, and you can taste the difference. Sipping chocolate is made slowly and lovingly by melting chocolate shavings in hot milk or cream, then finished with a bit of sugar. The creamy sipping chocolate is served piping hot and topped with frothy milk and chocolate shavings.

The Spot Vicuna Chocolate Café’s gourmet chocolate is made from hand-sorted cacao beans roasted in house. No wonder they are considered one of New England’s best new chocolatiers by Yankee Magazine.

Cocktail: So Fresh So Clean [Manchester]

The Sip This cocktail may be cold, but the flavors are sure to warm you up. Pisco brandy, simple syrup, and cinnamon make the base for the drink’s star ingredient: Milk punch – the centuries-old blend that has been making a recent comeback. Liquor, warm milk, tea, and citrus juice are mixed and then strained to create this full-bodied flavor. The Birch uses chai, cranberries, and blood orange juice for a punch in their So Fresh So Clean cocktail.

The Spot The menu at The Birch on Elm was designed for sharing and their constantly changing seasonal menus means there is something new every time you visit.

Mocktail: Milky Way Latte [Nashua]

The Sip First comes the espresso. Then the vanilla. Then the good stuff: melted dark chocolate and Ghirardelli caramel melted and mixed with frothy, steamed milk. The result? The Milky Way Latte, a mug filled with your caffeine and chocolate fix all in one. Sip responsibly.

The SpotBonhoeffers Café & Expresso is worth a visit more than their delicious coffee blends. By sipping their coffee, you’re helping contribute to the shop’s commitment to humanitarian projects like building a school for the deaf in Jamaica, fighting human trafficking in Nepal, and regularly supporting Nashua-area nonprofits.